WHAT'S BUZZING OR FLYING NEAR YOU 2019

Two of the three returning Siskins.

 

No Siskins yet @strongylodon but I've had a couple of Greenfinches and an occasional Yellowhammer, but the latter usually appear from Spring through Summer. Since late Autumn I've had up to nine blackbirds visiting the bird table together almost every day, they can be as spiteful with each other as the Robins.

 

A Yellow Hammer would be very rare here in an urban garden and no Greenfinch for several years but I have seen 12 species this morning and that is without a Coal Tit, Chaffinch or Siskin (yet) Two flocks of Fieldfares flew over heading towards the town.

I couldn't believe it when it was reported that some Waxwings were seen here just around the corner from me the other day as they were the first to be seen in Dorset this winter.

 

Twelve species is pretty good! I've not seen a Waxwing in the flesh but they are attractive birds.

The Coal Tits here have disappeared for the time being with more Great Tits visiting. Too many Chaffinches to count, a couple of Robins and the scavengers....crows, which I keep chasing from the bird table.

A few days ago a Red Kite was close by, riding ( or should I say flying) on the thermals over the neighbouring field, but as usual my camera wasn't to hand.

 

The sunny sky made these Crossbills stand out in a Wareham Forest this morning but they were high up and I could really only see them from below.








Females are greenish brown.

 

Beautiful shots Strongy!

 

There are still 6 Cattle Egrets here at a local farm, down from 18 before Christmas although they weren't with the cattle this time.




One of several winter visiting Chiffchaff at the sewage works.

 

Eastern Bluebird. Not a great photo, one more f stop would have really made it better. They are really wary but I will wear him down, eventually.

 

A beauty and one I wanted to see on our trip last year but all I saw were a few juvenile Mountain Bluebirds at Bryce Canyon.They didn't have much blue colouring.

 

Siskins in the garden.



Red Breasted Mergansers in Poole Harbour, one of the winter visiting ducks that look best in winter and tend to do a lot of displaying to each other.

 

Good to see the Siskins Strongy, there's none here yet.

The birds here were put off there stroke today as the pole on my old bird table snapped in the wind yesterday. I can ground feed but the Tits aren't keen on that. I've ordered a feeding station from Amazon but that won't arrive before the weekend. I would have liked another bird table but they all seem to have bases, which is no good to me in an exposed area.

 

Teal. The long staying Ring-Necked Duck, Ruff and Lesser Yellowlegs were all showing themselves this morning in Weymouth.
Ring Necked Duck.


Spends most of it's time with the similar Tufted Ducks.


Ruff, most are not this white!


Lesser Yellowlegs.




Lapwing/Peewit/Green Plover!


Gadwall, not highly coloured but an amazing plumage pattern.


Moorhen.

 

Had about 100+ Honey Bee's feeding yesturday afternoon

 

Tree Bumble Bee @shiney